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last； according to the story of the gospel； the time came when it
was fit that the Father of men should show himself to them in his
son； the one perfect man； who was his very image。 So Jesus came to
them。 But many would not believe he was the son of God； for they
knew God so little that they did not see how like he was to his
Father。 Others； who were more like God themselves； and so knew God
better； did think him the son of God； though they were not pleased
that he did not make more show。 His object was； not to rule over
them； but to make them know； and trust； and obey his Father； who was
everything to him。 Now when anyone died； his friends were so
miserable over him that they hardly thought about God； and took no
comfort from him。 They said the dead man would rise again at the
last day； but that was so far off； the dead was gone to such a
distance； that they did not care for that。 Jesus wanted to make them
know and feel that the dead were alive all the time； and could not
be far away； seeing they were all with God in whom we live； that
they had not lost them though they could not see them； for they were
quite within his reachas much so as ever； that they were just as
safe with； and as well looked after by his father and their father；
as they had ever been in all their lives。 It was no doubt a
dreadful…looking thing to have them put in a hole； and waste away to
dust； but they were not therefore gone outthey were only gone in！
To teach them all this he did not say much； but just called one or
two of them back for a while。 Of course Lazarus was going to die
again； but can you think his two sisters either loved him less； or
wept as much over him the next time he died？〃
〃No； it would have been foolish。〃
〃Well； if you think about it； you will see that no one who believes
that story； and weeps as they did the first time； can escape
reproof。 Where Jesus called Lazarus from； there are his friends； and
there are they waiting for him！ Now； I ask you； Davie； was it worth
while for Jesus to do this for us？ Is not the great misery of our
life； that those dear to us die？ Was it； I say； a thing worth doing；
to let us see that they are alive with God all the time； and can be
produced any moment he pleases？〃
〃Surely it was； sir！ It ought to take away all the misery！〃
〃Then it was a natural thing to do； and it is a reasonable thing to
think that it was done。 It was natural that God should want to let
his children see him； and natural he should let them know that he
still saw and cared for those they had lost sight of。 The whole
thing seems to me reasonable； I can believe it。 It implies indeed a
world of things of which we know nothing； but that is for； not
against it； seeing such a world we need； and if anyone insists on
believing nothing but what he has seen something like； I leave him
to his misery and the mercy of God。〃
If the world had been so made that men could easily believe in the
maker of it； it would not have been a world worth any man's living
in； neither would the God that made such a world； and so revealed
himself to such people； be worth believing in。 God alone knows what
life is enough for us to livewhat life is worth his and our while；
we may be sure he is labouring to make it ours。 He would have it as
full； as lovely； as grand； as the sparing of nothing； not even his
own son； can render it。 If we would only let him have his own way
with us！ If we do not trust him； will not work with him； are always
thwarting his endeavours to make us alive； then we must be
miserable； there is no help for it。 As to death； we know next to
nothing about it。 〃Do we not！〃 say the faithless。 〃Do we not know
the darkness； the emptiness； the tears； the sinkings of heart； the
desolation！〃 Yes； you know those； but those are your things； not
death's。 About death you know nothing。 God has told us only that the
dead are alive to him； and that one day they will be alive again to
us。 The world beyond the gates of death is； I suspect； a far more
homelike place to those that enter it； than this world is to us。
〃I don't like death；〃 said Davie； after a silence。
〃I don't want you to like； what you call death； for that is not the
thing itselfit is only your fancy about it。 You need not think
about it at all。 The way to get ready for it is to live； that is； to
do what you have to do。〃
〃But I do not want to get ready for it。 I don't want to go to it；
and to prepare for it is like going straight into it！〃
〃You have to go to it whether you prepare for it or not。 You cannot
help going to it。 But it must be like this world； seeing the only
way to prepare for it is to do the thing God gives us to do。〃
〃Aren't you afraid of death； Mr。 Grant？〃
〃No； I am not。 Why should I fear the best thing that； in its time；
can come to me？ Neither will you be afraid when it comes。 It is not
the dreadful thing it looks。〃
〃Why should it look dreadful if it is not dreadful？〃
〃That is a very proper question。 It looks dreadful； and must look
dreadful； to everyone who cannot see in it that which alone makes
life not dreadful。 If you saw a great dark cloak coming along the
road as if it were round somebody； but nobody inside it； you would
be frightenedwould you not？〃
〃Indeed I should。 It would be awful！〃
〃It would。 But if you spied inside the cloak； and making it come
towards you； the most beautiful loving face you ever sawof a man
carrying in his arms a little childand saw the child clinging to
him； and looking in his face with a blessed smile； would you be
frightened at the black cloak？〃
〃No； that would be silly。〃
〃You have your answer！ The thing that makes death look so fearful is
that we do not see inside it。 Those who see only the black cloak；
and think it is moving along of itself； may well be frightened； but
those who see the face inside the cloak； would be fools indeed to be
frightened！ Before Jesus came； people lived in great misery about
death； but after he rose again； those who believed in him always
talked of dying as falling asleep； and I daresay the story of
Lazarus； though it was not such a great thing after the rising of
the Lord himself； had a large share in enabling them to think that
way about it。〃
When they went home； Davie； running up to lady Arctura's room；
recounted to her as well as he could the conversation he had just
had with Mr。 Grant。
〃Oh； Arkie！〃 he said； 〃to hear him talk； you would think Death
hadn't a leg to stand upon！〃
Arctura smiled； but it was a smile through a cloud of unshed tears。
Lovely as death might be； she would like to get the good of this
world before going to the next！As if God would deny us any
good！At one time she had been willing to go； she thought； but she
was not now！The world had of late grown very beautiful to her！
CHAPTER LXI。
THE BUREAU。
On the Monday night Donal again went down into the hidden parts of
the castle。 Arctura had come to the schoolroom； but seemed ill able
for her work； and he did not tell her what he was doing farther。
They were rather the ghosts of fears than fears themselves that had
assailed him； and this time they hardly came near him as he wrought。
With hi